Mission and history

The supervisory structure of real estate brokerage helps ensure and promote competence and integrity within the profession. For consumers, it is reassuring to be able to rely on an independent body whose mission is to ensure their protection.

Protecting the public
The Association des courtiers et agents immobiliers du Québec (ACAIQ) is responsible for overseeing real estate brokerage in Québec. Its mission is to protect the public by supervising the professional activities of all real estate brokers and agents practicing in Québec, in accordance with the Real Estate Brokerage Act.

Some history
The Association des courtiers et agents immobiliers du Québec (ACAIQ) began operating on January 15, 1994, 40 years after the establishment of the Corporation des courtiers en immeubles de la province de Québec on January 13, 1954.

1954: The protection of the public and the advancement of the professional interests of real estate brokers are the primary concerns of the Corporation des courtiers en immeubles. At this early stage, however, the Corporation had few members and very limited resources. Giving the profession any responsibility or regulatory powers was not yet considered, since the profession had not yet demonstrated its desire or ability to protect the public. During this period, public protection was viewed as coming from the government. This was the beginning of systematic lobbying of government authorities to pass an act on real estate brokerage. This Act would finally be adopted in 1962 and amended in 1967, creating the Service de courtage immobilier, a government agency. Professionals would have to wait a bit longer for any authority to be granted to them...

1972: The Québec Real Estate Association (QREA) replaces the Corporation des courtiers en immeubles de la province de Québec. So at this period there was the Service de courtage immobilier, responsible for regulation and the issue of permits, working alongside a professional association that was trying to establish professional standards of conduct and training, without any legal authority. The need for professional status becomes more pronounced.

1973: The adoption of a code of professions meant to ensure protection of the public while allowing corporations to remain autonomous provides a glimmer of hope and a model for the future. The Association will have to prove that it is able to manage itself and that it will be capable of making the distinction between "protection of the public" and "defending the interests of its members"... This period is marked by a failed attempt to obtain the status of a professional corporation, numerous reports and consultations, and a number of amendments to the Act.

1974 to 1988: The number of members of the QREA rises from nearly 4,000 to more than 13,000. This increase allows the profession to develop the resources necessary to manage its affairs and to discipline and regulate its members.

1983: The Québec Real Estate Association adopts a Code of Ethics, a disciplinary process and a dispute resolution and arbitration process for its members. This major step coincides with the Association's 30th anniversary. Despite limited legal resources, the Code of Ethics and the disciplinary and dispute resolution process establish themselves quickly and result in raising the standards of the profession.

In 1983 again, the Québec Real Estate Association proposes a complete training program for real estate brokers and agents to the Superintendent of Real Estate Brokerage. At the same time, the Association promotes official recognition of this training by granting successful candidates the title of Chartered Agent. This program also provides an annual professional upgrading course. Advanced training on a voluntary basis and specialist courses is considered as well. A similar program is also set up for brokers, made up of general training equivalent to a university-level certificate, upgrade courses concentrating on administrative and financial problems, as well as mandatory professional upgrading courses. The Association proposes that success in these courses should be made a requirement for renewal of permits.

The government does not pursue this idea, but instead amends the Real Estate Brokerage Act and, for academic training, requires that candidates pass college-level courses. Linking permit renewal to upgrading courses is not considered either. Fifteen years later, this subject is still a matter of concern for members of the profession.

1994: The establishment of the Association des courtiers et agents immobiliers du Québec (ACAIQ) is the result of the reforms of the Real Estate Brokerage Act. Bringing together the approximately 18,000 real estate brokers and agents in Québec, the ACAIQ is responsible for administering the Real Estate Brokerage Act and regulations. The Association employs about a hundred people.